I dare you to be insanely dedicated

Being "on call" can be a lonely late-night business. The summer camp directors here rotate through a two-week schedule; each night two of them - or others at that level of experience/responsibility - walk around, walkie-talkies at the belt, and check out every village and most of the main camp buildings, usually finishing at 2 AM. Last night Jeff Daly, our Director of Camping, the big mahaff, contemplated his on-call night ahead and decided to call his old pal Brian Butler, and said on the phone: "I dare you to drive up here and join me for on-call tonight." It was 9 pm. Butler had done a long day's work in New Jersey. He had to be back in the morning for another work day. His days' off are limited and anyway he was in a company car. But, being Butler (the title of this blog entry should really be "Being Butler"), he took the dare, and drove up. Arrived at 11:15 or so. They joined Dan Weir, just back from his own day off, for a bit of grilled steak and pre-On Call warm-ups. I was driving by, on my way back from a CQ fire, having told stories to Forest and then Outpost, and noticed the little steak-smelling cozy enclave. Stopped and there was Butler. The conversation that followed has been recorded and I present it feelingfully here. Have a listen, and I'm going to suggest that you follow your dearest friends' dares, wherein a night's happiness lies.